DIY Rat Treats: Simple, Healthy, and Delicious Recipes

If you are a rat lover like me, you probably enjoy spoiling your furry friends with some delicious treats from time to time. But not all treats are created equal, and some store-bought ones can be unhealthy, expensive, or boring for your rats. That’s why I decided to share some of my favorite homemade rat treat recipes that are easy to make, nutritious, and fun for your rats. These treats are made with simple ingredients that you can find in your kitchen or at your local grocery store. They are also customizable, so you can adjust them to your rats’ preferences and dietary needs. Here are eight yummy recipes that your rats will love!

Recipe 1: Microwave Frozen Veg Omelette

This is a quick and easy way to make a protein-rich and veggie-packed meal for your rats. All you need is some eggs and frozen vegetables of your choice. You can use peas, corn, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, or any other rat-safe veggies. Just make sure they are not too spicy or acidic for your rats.

Ingredients:

• 1-2 eggs
• Frozen vegetables

Instructions:

1. Break one or two eggs into a microwave-safe bowl and whisk them well.
2. Add in some frozen vegetables and stir to combine.
3. Microwave the mixture for about 3 minutes, stirring every minute or so, until the egg is cooked and fluffy.
4. Let it cool down completely before serving to your rats.

Recipe 2: Super-powered No-cook Porridge

This is a great treat for rats of all ages, but especially for older rats who may need some extra nutrition and hydration. It is made with rolled grains, plant-based milk, and some superfoods that boost your rats’ health and immunity. You can use any kind of rolled grains, such as oats, barley, rice, or quinoa. You can also use any kind of plant-based milk, such as soy, almond, oat, or rice milk. Just avoid cow’s milk, as it can cause digestive issues for your rats.

Ingredients:

• Rolled grains
• Plant-based milk
• Linseed (flaxseed) meal
• Hempseed powder

Instructions:

1. Pour some rolled grains into a bowl until you have about two-thirds of the total volume you want.
2. Cover the grains with plant-based milk and leave them to soak in the fridge until they are soft and mushy. You can do this overnight or for a few hours.
3. Stir the porridge and check the consistency. You want it to be sloppy, not sticky. Add more milk if needed.
4. Stir in a teaspoon of linseed meal and hempseed powder per three rats.
5. Serve in a bowl for the group or on individual spoons.

Recipe 3: Left-over Snaps

This is a versatile and savory biscuit that you can make with any leftover meat, fish, or veggies that you have in your fridge. You can use chicken, turkey, beef, pork, lamb, tuna, salmon, or any other rat-safe meat or fish. You can also use any kind of veggies that your rats like, such as carrots, zucchini, spinach, kale, or parsley. Just make sure they are cooked and chopped finely.

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice/millet/quinoa/pearl barley
• Cooked meat/fish/veggies
• Wholemeal flour

Instructions:

1. Cook some rice/millet/quinoa/pearl barley according to the package directions. You can use any kind of grain that you have or prefer.
2. Puree the grain in a food processor or blender with some cooked meat/fish/veggies until you have a smooth paste. Use about 150 g (5 oz) of meat/fish/veggies per half cup of grain.
3. Transfer the paste to a bowl and add some wholemeal flour gradually until you have a stiff dough that you can roll out.
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it is about 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) thick.
5. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter or a knife and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes or until hard and golden.
7. Let them cool completely before storing in an airtight container or freezing for later use.

Recipe 4: Veggie Biscuits

This is another savory treat biscuit that you can make with some pumpkin or butternut squash flesh and some nut butter. You can use any kind of nut butter that your rats like, such as peanut butter, almond butter, or cashew butter. Just make sure they are unsalted and unsweetened, and use them sparingly as they are high in fat.

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin or butternut squash flesh
• Nut butter
• 2 eggs
• Rolled grains
• Chopped vegetables
• Wholemeal flour

Instructions:

1. Chop up some pumpkin or butternut squash flesh until you have about a cup full.
2. Mash it with a fork or a potato masher in a large bowl.
3. Add a tablespoon of nut butter and mix well.
4. Add two eggs and whisk until well combined.
5. Stir in some rolled grains and chopped vegetables of your choice. You can use oats, barley, rice, quinoa, carrots, zucchini, spinach, kale, parsley, or any other rat-safe veggies.
6. Add some wholemeal flour gradually until you have a dough that you can roll out.
7. Roll out the dough on a floured surface until it is about 0.5 cm (0.2 inch) thick.
8. Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter or a knife and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake at 180°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes or until hard and golden.
10. Let them cool completely before storing in an airtight container or freezing for later use.

Recipe 5: Fruit Leather

This is a sweet and chewy treat that you can make with any fresh or frozen fruit that your rats enjoy. You can use apples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, mangoes, pineapples, or any other rat-safe fruits. Just make sure they are not too acidic or sugary for your rats.

Ingredients:

• Fruit
• Water
• Honey (optional)

Instructions:

1. Wash and chop the fruit into small pieces. You can peel them if you want, but it’s not necessary.
2. Place the fruit in a saucepan with some water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the fruit is soft and mushy.
3. Transfer the fruit to a blender or a food processor and puree until smooth. You can add some honey if you want to sweeten it a bit, but be careful not to add too much as it can be bad for your rats’ teeth.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the fruit puree evenly over it with a spatula. You want it to be about 0.3 cm (0.1 inch) thick.
5. Bake at 100°C (200°F) for about 3 hours or until the fruit leather is dry and pliable.
6. Cut into strips or shapes with scissors or a knife and peel off the parchment paper.
7. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later use.

Recipe 6: Gumdrops

This is another sweet and chewy treat that you can make with some gelatin and fruit juice of your choice. You can use apple juice, orange juice, grape juice, cranberry juice, or any other rat-safe juice. Just make sure they are not too acidic or sugary for your rats.

Ingredients:

• Gelatin
• Fruit juice
• Sugar (optional)

Instructions:

1. Sprinkle some gelatin over some cold water in a small bowl and let it sit for about 5 minutes to soften.
2. Heat some fruit juice in a saucepan over medium-high heat until it boils. You can add some sugar if you want to sweeten it a bit, but be careful not to add too much as it can be bad for your rats’ teeth.
3. Stir in the gelatin mixture and whisk until well dissolved.
4. Pour the mixture into a shallow baking dish lined with parchment paper and let it cool completely in the fridge until set.
5. Cut into cubes or shapes with scissors or a knife and peel off the parchment paper.
6. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later use.

Recipe 7: Nuts and Seeds Bars

This is a crunchy and nutty treat that you can make with some nuts and seeds of your choice. You can use peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, or any other rat-safe nuts and seeds. Just make sure they are unsalted and unsweetened, and use them sparingly as they are high in fat.

Ingredients:

• Nuts and seeds
• Honey
• Coconut oil

Instructions:

1. Chop some nuts and seeds into small pieces. You can use a food processor or a knife for this. You want about a cup of nuts and seeds in total.
2. Heat some honey and coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. You can use about a quarter cup of honey and two tablespoons of coconut oil for this.
3. Stir in the nuts and seeds and mix well to coat them with the honey mixture.
4. Transfer the mixture to a baking dish lined with parchment paper and press it firmly into an even layer.
5. Refrigerate until firm, then cut into bars or squares with a knife.
6. Store in an airtight container or freeze for later use.

Recipe 8: Cheese Balls

This is a cheesy and creamy treat that you can make with some cheese and cream cheese of your choice. You can use cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, or any other rat-safe cheese. Just make sure they are not too salty or fatty for your rats.

Ingredients:

• Cheese
• Cream cheese
• Chopped herbs (optional)

Instructions:

1. Grate some cheese into a bowl. You can use about half a cup of cheese for this.
2. Add some cream cheese and mix well to form a smooth paste. You can use about a quarter cup of cream cheese for this.
3. Stir in some chopped herbs if you want to add some extra flavor. You can use parsley, basil, oregano, or any other rat-safe herbs.
4. Roll the cheese mixture into small balls and place them on a plate lined with parchment paper.
5. Refrigerate until firm, then serve to your rats or store in an airtight container for later use.

I hope you enjoyed these homemade rat treat recipes and that your rats will love them too! Remember to feed these treats in moderation and as part of a balanced diet for your rats. Also, always check the ingredients for any potential allergens or toxins for your rats. Have fun making these treats and bonding with your rats!